Kevin R.

Gapit
Ellaine G. Caubang

Womens Rights
Womens Rights are the fight for the idea that women should have equal rights with men.
Over history, this has taken the form of gaining property rights, the womens suffrage, or the
right of women to vote, reproductive rights, and the right to work for equal pay. It is the effort to
secure equal rights for women and to remove gender discrimination from laws, institutions, and
behavioural patterns.

What are Womens Right?

Womens rights are rights that have been varied through time and across cultures. Even
today, there is some disagreements about the law of womens rights. Does a woman have a
right to control family size? To equality of treatment in the workplace? To equality of access to
military assignments?

Usually, "women's rights" refers to whether women have equality with the rights of men
where women and men's capacities are the same.
Sometimes, "women's rights" includes protection of women where women are subject to
special circumstances (such as maternity leave for child-bearing) or more susceptible to
mistreatment (traffic in women, rape).
The early efforts of the women's rights movement spawned great advances in human
rights and economic opportunities for women. Over the past several decades, however, activists
have deemed certain rights to be more important, more crucial to womanhood, or more critical to
women's bodily autonomy.' These political choices have overshadowed such noble objectives as
ending pay discrimination based on sex, eliminating discrimination against women in general,
allowing women to be paid fairly for their labor, and continually opening opportunities to
women that have long been held as sanctuaries for men. Consequently, the facts indicate that
women are not gaining as much ground as they had hoped or expected. (Kohm and Holmes,
2000)
This distorted set of priorities has its roots in contemporary women's rights activism. As a
result, equal employment, equal pay, professional potential, educational choices, personal
happiness, and infinite opportunity have been forfeited in favor of contraception, reproductive
alternatives, sexual lifestyle choices, and abortion on demand. The expansion of reproductive
choices has placed a stranglehold on womanhood. Instead of experiencing freedom of choice in
reproduction, women have been condemned to be further defined by their reproductive capacity.
This emphasis on reproductive freedom has detracted attention from the immensely valuable
contributions women can make to society aside from reproduction, thereby limiting women to a
more narrow spectrum of importance in the economic world. (Kohm and Holmes, 2000)
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Rights - Legal, social, or ethical principles of freedom or entitlement; that is,rights are the
fundamental normative rules about what is allowed of people or owed to people, according to
some legal system, social convention, or ethical theory.
Womens Suffrage - The right of women to vote.
Womens Rights - Rights that promote a position of legal and social equality of women with
men.
Equality - The state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities.

WOMENS RIGHTS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Womens Rights started with Womens Suffrage in the Philippines. It did not take off
until the early 19th century when the movement was proposed throughout the country. It was
taken about with mixed reactions as most men in the Philippines deemed that a womans job was
cooking, cleaning, and taking care of children. It did not take off as well as the proposal of
Womens Suffrage will spiral the current state of the country that time as it would alter the
family threshold dynamic as the movement would allow women to take up roles not customary
to them.
Although taken in with a lot of disdain, the movement still passed on eventually as it was
acknowledged and filed on more than several occasions firstly during the Philippine Assembly in
1907 by Congressman Filemon Sotto in 1907, and several years afterwards in Negro Occidental,
Cebu, Bulacan, Laguna, and Tomas Lunan.
The bill was not passed until Manuel Quezon declared his favor for this suffrage
movement in 1936 which ultimately lead to the legalization of Womens Suffrage in September
17, 1937. Once passed on, it allowed more than 400,000 women to have their right to vote. The
bill passed was one of the first in Asia and stood as one of the foregrounds of womens rights
movements in Asia overall.
This movement stood strongly over the years and was stood by several female political
figures such as the 7th President of the Republic of the Philippines, Corazon Aquino who was
elected into office on February 1986 and restored democracy back to the country. She stood as a
stronghold for womens rights activists all around the country and in Asia as well being one of
the first women in Asia to hold that political position. This did not stop with Corey as several
more female political heads rose to fame mainly, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who was the 14th
President of the Republic of the Philippines, Miriam Defensor Santiago whos a well known
lawyer and politician, etc.
Being in a Catholic majority country, the movement was also in favor of the Catholic
Church as the church itself favors the involvement of women in society in making choices for the
masses and taking into account their opinions as well. Having the Churchs support with this
movement greatly enhanced the acceptance of this movement as it silenced a majority of those
who call for its removal.
UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON RIGHTS OF WOMEN 1981
The 1981 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against
Women, signed by many United Nations member states (notably not Iran, Somalia, the Vatican
City and the United States and a few others), defines discrimination in a way that implies that
women's rights are in "political, economic, social, cultural, civil" and other spheres.
Womens rights around the world are an important indicator to understand global well-
being. A major global womens rights treaty was ratified by the majority of the worlds nations a
few decades ago. Yet, despite many successes in empowering women, numerous issues still exist
in all areas of life, ranging from the cultural, political to the economic. For example, women
often work more than men, yet are paid less; gender discrimination affects girls and women
throughout their lifetime; and women and girls are often are the ones that suffer the most
poverty.
When it comes to female education rates, progress has been made around the world, and
in many countries girls and young women have outnumbered and outperformed boys and men at
all levels of schooling for decades. Nevertheless, these advances have yet to translate into greater
equity in employment, politics and social relations. -Mario Osava, Women More Educated, Not
More Equal, Inter Press Service, March 1, 2010

The universal Declaration of human rights which was adopted by the United Nations
general assembly in 1948 outlined the fundamental consensus on human rights of everybody in
relation to such matters as freedom of movement, religion and assembly, protection of the law,
rights to work, health, education, and citizenship. It clearly points out that these rights are to
apply equally to all without distinction of any kind for instance race, colour, gender or any other
status. This means that these rights are to apply to women as well.
Therefore Women have the same ability as men and should therefore have the same
rights as men. For a long time human rights have been based on gender, whereby most human
rights are only guaranteed to men. Womens rights therefore help women get acquire the same
rights as their male counterparts. Womens rights help the society evolve. Through womens
rights such as right to equality women are able to advance and as a result the larger society too is
able to advance and evolve.

The Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women

(CEDAW)
Considered the international bill of rights for women, the Convention defines what
constitutes discrimination against women and sets an agenda for national action to end such
discrimination. It was adopted by the United Nations in 1979 and came into force on 3
September 1981.
The Convention takes an important place in bringing the female half of humanity into the
focus of human rights concerns. The spirit of the Convention is rooted in the goals of the United
Nations: to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human
person, in the equal rights of men and women. The present document spells out the meaning of
equality and how it can be achieved. In so doing, the Convention establishes not only an
international bill of rights for women, but also an agenda for action by countries to guarantee the
enjoyment of those rights.
The international human rights system has adopted both general human rights standards
and specific human rights norms to eliminate discrimination against women and to guarantee
womens substantive rights. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women (the Womens Convention), adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, is
widely referred to as an international bill of rights for women. The Womens Convention and
the UN Committee responsible for its interpretation and implementation arguably interprets the
normative international human rights framework more creatively than any other international
human rights treaty or body. And yet entrenched discrimination against women persists
worldwide, with women suffering human rights violations on the grounds of their gender on a
daily basis.

Reasons why women should have rights

Women have the same ability as men and should therefore have the same rights as men. For
a long time human rights have been based on gender, whereby most human rights are only
guaranteed to men. Womens rights therefore help women get acquire the same rights as
their male counterparts
Womens rights help empower women. Through womens rights, women can access same
educational facilities as men. Before womens rights came into being, women were not
allowed to go to school and own businesses since their role to stay at home and take care of
the children
Womens rights are important to help stop torture and inhuman degradement of women. For
a long time women have been degraded, tortured hence there was a need for womens right
to protect women from torture and inhuman degradement.
It would be an injustice to benefit from what women contribute to the society without
bestowing the same rights as men.
Women deserve the same degree of respect as men.
Womens rights help the society evolve. Through womens rights such as right to equality
women are able to advance and as a result the larger society too is able to advance and
evolve
To help stop marginalization. Traditions, cultures, political, social, and economic interests
have excluded women from the general human rights and have instead placed women to a
secondary or special interests status within human rights. This marginalization of women
across the world has resulted to gender inequality. It has contributed to the perpetuation of
womens subordinate status. Womens rights are therefore essential to stop the
marginalization of women.
 No one should be denied their rights or have their rights infringed no matter what their sex
is. Women have often been treated unequally in respect of men hence the need for women's
rights
Women are oppressed in most institutions; hence need to be liberated through various
womens rights such as the right to work among others.
Womens rights are important to help fight unjust patterns and structures within society.
Even in this century womens rights are still important because we haven't achieved real
equality.
Women are more subjected to violence than men hence the need of womens right such as
the womens right to be protected from violence and sexual assault.
Womens rights have helped women advance in many ways. This rights have protected
women from torture, violence, sexual assault, inequality and without doubt there was and
there still is a great need for womens rights

Pros of the Womens Rights

1. It gives everyone equal rights.
By adding the ERA, the U.S. Constitution will guarantee that everyone will have human,
civil, legal, and diplomatic rights from all types of prejudice. The legal standard for court rulings
on cases related to gender discrimination would also be clarified.
2. It abolishes gender discriminating laws.
The ERA would provide a clearer court standard for settling cases of gender
discrimination and it would also clarify sex inequity jurisprudence.
3. It recognizes womans rights as legal.
With the ERA, the law will recognize women and men as equals. This means women will
no longer have to keep on fighting for their place in society, and they can receive the same
opportunities as men, such as salary increase and promotions that are the same as what men get.

Cons of the Womens Rights

1. It uses unclear language.
The ERA is not written clearly and contains tricky wordings that may lead to plenty of
room for interpretation, confusion, and the lack of gender equality. Opposing parties argue that it
can take away certain rights from women while adding to others, and take away some essential
rights of masses control and the states. For example, the Social Security and Protective Labour
Laws that women enjoy today can be taken away. But supporters of the amendment say that the
laws would extend to men instead.
2. It can cause problems with the Constitution.
A major concern since the ERA was first introduced is how it will influence the way laws
will be made, especially because it is confusing. And since federal laws are derived from the
Constitution, it might cause problems with the laws created once the amendment is in place.
3. It can result to implementation problems.
Section two of the ERA states that only Congress has the power to enforce its provisions
outlined in the amendment. These states didnt take this very well because it gives the federal
government more power and takes away the rights of every state. Plus, changes have to be made
to any laws that exhibit gender discrimination or are in conflict with the ERA.
4. Expose women to risks
One of the protective labour laws that proponents point out as particularly discriminating
is the rule that forbids women from working in and around mines except in an office in a
clerical capacity. Considering that mines provide jobs with better pay, barring women from
these employment opportunities is an example of gender inequality. Those who support the ERA
believe that such jobs are not detrimental to the health and physical well being of women and
should be opened to her. If time comes that women can work in mines, they will be exposed to
plenty of risks that the men have experienced all throughout their careers. Would a high pay be
compensation enough for the repercussions?
It is true that adding the Equal Rights Amendment in the Constitution will cause major
changes with the laws, but what amendment didnt? Before you decide to oppose or support the
ERA, it is vital that you understand the context and the full extent of its provisions
Professions have opened to women, presenting them with new opportunities and
difficulties. This opening was one of the primary goals of the founding feminists and certainly is
to be celebrated. Instead of collaborating with men to find solutions to the problems working
parents face that would benefit individuals and society as a whole, the contemporary feminist
movement has relied on reproductive freedom to solve the family versus career dilemma.

Sex should not be the primary focus of a movement that empowers women. When
women or men focus on sex purely for their own pleasure or power, it becomes a destructive
force. This type of display makes a mockery of women who are truly interested in equality.
Taking women seriously in the workplace may no longer be as likely when women themselves
focus on using sex to get power, instead of using brains to attain professional respect.
Conclusion:
Based on our study, Womens Rights does play a key factor in determining the progress
of a country as a whole and we stand by its continuous spread. It depicts rights that both display
a better role for women in our society and endangers them to the free will of choosing
professions and joining political organizations that could put them at risk. Nevertheless,
womens rights will always play a role in the development of a country as it does not dictate nor
affect the productivity or enhancement of that countrys society.

As much as this movement does include major changes in the law as several bills that
will be passed who directly falls under this law will be violated, disdained, and of course
received badly by a portion of the public, it still provides the country with the opportunity of
more societal roles that can be taken up by the different sex which will further diversify and
develop the labor force as opposed to previous laws.

The solution does not lie in any one key political issue. We need to understand more of
the issue to be able to produce a better solution. We need to balance the law with both men and
women for the equality rights, not to weigh in on one-side. Although the solution is more
difficult than engaging in single issue, lowest-common-denominator myopic and self-destructive
activism, women must pursue the best solution, not simply the easiest one. That solution lies in a
campaign to change women's character, individually and corporately, which inevitably will
change society.

Recommendations:
For those who would want to tackle the topic of womens rights or anything related to the
equality or justice movement for women, our recommendations would be to limit your study
towards an area or country where womens rights is yet to be thoroughly explored. We suggest
this mainly as womens rights itself is already an ongoing movement with many supporters in
favor of it all around the globe and as such, having this study being limited to countries where
women are still oppressed by the male figure would be best as it tackles a different side of
womens rights and shows the harsh truth of the difficulties women experience on a political and
social platform.

Wed highly recommend that this topic would be related and studied more intently on the
middle east or less religiously diverse countries around the globe such as in Afghanistan, Iraq,
Cambodia, etc. as these countries offer more depth on how womens rights is still not well
known and is yet to explode in these countries as these countries are still dominated by the
thought of men receiving the decision making end.

Another recommendation would be to involve this study with other religious factors such
as Islam, as religion will also directly affect the acceptance and reaction to womens rights.
Taking into account an areas religious beliefs will surely diverge the topic into a more
sentimental and difficult level as the study will now have to deal with factors that are based on
the beliefs of the masses which is a completely different platform compared to a political stance.
References:

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http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Women%27s+Rights

http://meganrapinoe.com/human-rights-for-women/

Lewis, J. (May 08, 2017). What are womens rights?. Retrieved from
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Shah, A. (March 14, 2010). Womens Rights. Retrieved from

http://www.globalissues.org/article/166/womens-rights

N.A.( July 23, 2013). Why should women have rights?. Retrieved from
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http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Women/WRGS/Pages/WRGSIndex.aspx

Pragna, P. (June 2, 2017). Women's Human Rights. Retrieved from

http://www.lse.ac.uk/humanRights/teaching/WomensHumanRights.aspx

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https://flowpsychology.com/6-pros-and-cons-of-the-equal-rights-amendment/

https://connectusfund.org/7-strongest-pros-and-cons-of-the-equal-rights-amendment

National Organization for Women, 1999 National NOW Conference Resolutions

(last modified Nov. 19, 1999) <http:/www.now.org/nnt/fall-99/resolutions.html>.